Inter Arma are the best band you’ve never heard. Debut Sundown snuck up on me and wrapped a tire iron around my head to snaffle third spot in my 2010 end of year list with its amalgam of black metal, sludge and NWOBHM.

Typically when I fall in love a record, any follow-up will struggle fill its shoes.

On their Relapse Records debut EP, Inter Arma do more than buck that trend, they torpedo that motherfucker out of the water.

So, the temptation is to describe Fire in the Cave as blackened sludge and be done with it.

But it’s just nowhere near nasty enough.

Imagine the burly euphoria, ringing riffs and atmospherics of early Baroness laced with blackened vocals and tremolo-picked passages rather than the claustrophobia and bilious ear-rape of, say, Wolvhammer.

The Floridians have a two-track self-titled EP on Bandcamp that is a real grower, especially if you happen to like the idea of a slightly more unhinged Baroness.

As much as I have banged on about a certain Savannah, Georgia band, there’s a lot going on in this 16 minutes that marks Fire in the Cave as one to watch.

And while black is perhaps among my least favourite metals at the moment (it’s edged out for the wooden spoon by power metal, oh and tech-death), the blackened aspects do give an intriguing flavour. Like charcoal on a steak, if you will.

Speak to the Monkey

I'm keen to support all new music. So if you'd like to send me your band's album or demo for possible review or mention then please email:
monkeydefiesgravity [at] g m a i l [dot] c o m
I can't promise I'll post about it or even be nice about it but I'll definitely listen to it.